Flash videos for my website

[afe]

Ok, I would like flash videos for my website. Where do I start? Please and thank you!

[davidjmorin]

just use youtube and embed them in your site

[BLiZZaRD]

Specific ones, or ones you make yourself?

If you have specific ones in mind, a la youtube or something, then use the included embed tags on those pages.

If you want to make your own...

go to adobe.com download a trial of Flash CS3, get a couple books, open about 12 tabs in your browser to Flash tutorials and get a huge pot of coffee brewing.

And plan to give Medyman and me a ton of "thanks" :D

[afe]

Ok. Thanks.

[afe]

I was wondering, how come websites use flash video players for their videos and not just put an embaded windows media player to play a video that they have?

[afe]

Does anyone know how I can get the code for this players on this page? Exact type with the menu underneath. flocasts.org/flowrestling/flowrestlr/index.php

[BLiZZaRD]

I was wondering, how come websites use flash video players for their videos and not just put an embaded windows media player to play a video that they have?

Because not everyone can use WMP. And coding for one "more universal" player like Flash is easier than trying to make a video compatible with which ever default player a visitor may be using.

as for the second post. I haven't looked closely at the source, but I will see what I can find out for you later, if no one else has been through to explain it.

[afe]

Thanks!

[Medyman]

Does anyone know how I can get the code for this players on this page? Exact type with the menu underneath. http://www.flocasts.org/flowrestling/flowrestlr/index.php


I'm pretty sure that's the Jeroen Wijering player.

It's a fairly customizable flash media player...very flexible in it's utility. Certainly, the best free one out there (without having to code from scratch).

He has several versions available. JW Flash Media Player (http://www.jeroenwijering.com/?item=JW_Media_Player) to display images and play .swf, .flv, and .mp3 files and JW FLV Player (http://www.jeroenwijering.com/?item=JW_FLV_Player) for a strictly video (.flv) application are two of them (there's also an image rotator and mp3 player, if interested).

For more info: http://www.jeroenwijering.com/

[afe]

Cool, thanks that looks great! I see that it requires some licensing, are you sure it's free? Thanks!

[BLiZZaRD]

Yes, it is free. The license is the CCL (Creative Commons License) means you can use it, you can even alter it, as long as you don't imply the original creator endorsed your changes, and you distribute it under the same license. You may NOT use it for commercial sites, meaning you can't use it to make money for yourself. ;)

[emminar]

I see that it requires some licensing, are you sure it's free? Thanks!

Yup its free. (http://www.jeroenwijering.com/upload/jw_media_player.zip)

EDIT: Oops, guess Blizzard got there first :)

[afe]

Really? "You may NOT use it for commercial sites, meaning you can't use it to make money for yourself." I am going to put ads on my site, is that ok?

[BLiZZaRD]

Yes, the ads are generating revenue, not the video player. And you aren't a commercial site. No worries.

[afe]

Ohh I see thanks!

[afe]

http://alanawez.com/mediaplayer.php , that's the test player. 1)) Now how do I use a .wmv video for it. 2)) Do I have to use .flv videos? 3)) how do I get .flv from .wmv videos? 4)) Also, how do I setup like it is on this site? http://www.flocasts.org/flowrestling/flowrestlr/index.php

Please and thank you!!

[BLiZZaRD]

I assume it is loaded through XML pages? You will need to edit those to include the .wmv.

I don't have a player like this so I am not sure, but if you or Medyman don't know I will dig into it later.

[afe]

Ok, thanks

[Medyman]

Firstly, you'll need to convert your Windows Media Vids to .flv. This player (or any flash player, to my knowledge) won't be able to play .wmv files directly.

To do this, you can use the Flash IDE (post back if you need help with this) or a variety of programs out there (just google .wmv to .flv).

Secondly...
The files are added through XML (though RSS, XSPF and ASX are also supported).
In the unzipped files that came with the media player, you'll find a playlist.xml. Open it with any simple text editor and you'll see it's fairly self explantory to edit. Just make sure that the filepaths are relative to the page that the flash movie is on.


Lastly...
The easiest way to customize the player is to use the online wizard as it minimizes errors if you're not used to the FlashVars sytax.

Go here: http://www.jeroenwijering.com/extras/wizard.html
I assume by wanting your player to look like the example you showed, you want the thumbnails. You'll find that options under advanced flashvars >> apperance flashvars. "Display thumbs in playlist" is the last option. You'll also need to provide a URL for the thumb in the XML file.

HTH

[afe]

Ok thanks, I like how the black one is set up. The only thing I want to add to it is add "thumbnails" beside the video's name. How do I do that?

Please and thank you.

[Medyman]

Once you add the FlashVars that I instructed you to do in the previous post, just add the relative links into the XML.

Open up playlist.xml in any text editor. In the sample playlist provided with the script, the first node looks like this:


<track>
<title>Homeland (MP3)</title>
<creator>Postman</creator>
<location>song.mp3</location>
</track>

To be able to display thumbnail images in the player, you want to edit that to this:


<track>
<title>Homeland (MP3)</title>
<creator>Postman</creator>
<location>song.mp3</location>
<image>thumb.jpg</image>
</track>

With "thumbsinplaylist" set to true, you should have the effect you're looking for.

[afe]

What is the flashvars code for the thumbsinplaylist that I have to enter? Please and thank you!!

[BLiZZaRD]

Using the wizard in the link Medy gave you earlier you will get a code line that looks like this:



flashvars="&file=http://tedtalks.blip.tv/rss&height=220&width=400&autoscroll=true&displaywidth=200&overstretch=true&thumbsinplaylist=true" />


You shouldn't need to change anything (see the very end of the code above). Just ensure it =true not =false.

[afe]

Thanks!! You guys are incredible!! I love you guys!! Thanks Medyman and Blizzard!

[afe]

Is it possible to add a "number of views" script and a 5 star rater? Please and thank you!

[Medyman]

Do you mean in conjuction with the flash player? Of course I think anything is possible but adapting this particular one for that functionality would be a pretty large task.

You could probably do some workarounds to use those types of scripts though (external of the flash player). But that depends on your setup and what exactly you're trying to do.

[afe]

Ok thanks, I'll try it.